Crew 2, Union 1: Hard-fought win

Thursday

Aug 30, 2012 at 12:01 AMAug 30, 2012 at 8:55 AM

There are plenty of words to describe the Crew's come-from-behind 2-1 road victory last night against the Philadelphia Union, but Matt Lampson kept coming back to one. "Exhausting," the Crew fill-in goalkeeper said. "That's the first word that came to mind."

Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

There are plenty of words to describe the Crew’s come-from-behind 2-1 road victory last night against the Philadelphia Union, but Matt Lampson kept coming back to one.

“Exhausting,” the Crew fill-in goalkeeper said. “That’s the first word that came to mind.”

How else to express getting the winning goal five minutes into stoppage time after playing a man down for nearly 30 minutes? After Crew defender Josh Williams received a red card in the 68th minute, Eddie Gaven scored in the 95th to hand the surging Crew (11-8-6) a victory over the Union (7-13-4).

“Playing down a man and absorbing that much pressure and still countering for a goal? That’s the mark of a playoff team,” Lampson said.

With less than two minutes remaining in stoppage time, designated player Federico Higuain received Lampson’s goal kick on the right side of the field. Spying open space, Higuain cut toward the middle as teammate Justin Meram made a run along the left side. Higuain gestured to Meram to make a run at the goal and drew a defender to him before slotting a pass to Meram’s feet near the end line.

Meram’s pass from a tight angle rolled just past a sliding Zac MacMath, and the Union goalkeeper could only watch as the ball continued to the far side of the box right to a waiting Gaven, who tapped it home.

“It was pretty much an open net,” Gaven said. “It just felt good to be able to get a goal that helped this team win the game because it was such a good effort from every guy on the field. Everybody worked so hard tonight, and to be able to come here and get three points is huge for us."

The Crew, with 39 points, closed to two points of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and has won three straight for the first time since a four-game winning streak May 8-23, 2010. But this one appeared destined for a tie at best for the final 22 minutes.

With score tied at 1, Williams was shown red for shoving Antoine Hoppenot to the ground in front of a referee. As Hoppenot was sprawled on the ground, Crew defender Danny O’Rourke came over and jawed with the forward, who got to his feet and offered a shove in return.

Hoppenot earned a yellow card, but the Crew was forced to play without one of its key defenders. Julius James subbed in for forward Jairo Arrieta and paired with Chad Marshall in the central midfield, while O’Rourke assumed Williams’ vacated left back spot.

From that point until Gaven’s goal, it was open season on Lampson, who was making his first career start in place of the hobbled Andy Gruenebaum. The Union peppered Lampson with shots and had a go-ahead goal in the 81st minute negated by an offside call.

The Union scored first on a free kick from Carlos Valdes in the 29th minute that glanced off Gaven in the wall. Lampson couldn’t change direction to stop the deflection from going in the net.

The Crew tied it in the 41st minute after midfielder Dilly Duka was fouled along the left flank and Higuain lined up for a free kick from about 40 yards out. Higuain, who scored two goals on free kicks on Saturday against New England, sent this one into the goal area toward a crowd, where a leaping Williams headed it home with his back to the net.